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Attendance: 62,369
Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 28, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Alaves logo

2-1

Suarez (72'), Messi (84')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Guidetti (23')

Team News: Philippe Coutinho makes first Barcelona start against Alaves

Philippe Coutinho makes his first start for Barcelona in Sunday's La Liga meeting with Alaves at Camp Nou.

Philippe Coutinho has been handed his first start for Barcelona in Sunday's La Liga meeting with Alaves at Camp Nou.

The January signing from Liverpool made his Blaugrana debut as a substitute in the midweek 2-0 win over Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.

Ernesto Valverde has now opted to draft Coutinho into the starting XI alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for the Brazilian's first Barca appearance in the Spanish top flight, which sees the Catalans up against the struggling Basques.

Lucas Digne is picked at left-back as Jordi Alba starts on the bench, while Ivan Rakitic is selected ahead of Sergio Busquets in central midfield and Ruben Semedo is given the nod over Sergi Roberto at right-back.

Alaves, meanwhile, have placed Barca loanee Munir El Haddadi on the bench, with Celta Vigo man John Guidetti tasked by head coach Abelardo Fernandez to lead the line.

Defender Rodrigo Ely is currently suspended, giving Guillermo Maripan the chance to start at centre-back, while there is also a spot in the XI for midfielder Mubarak Wakaso.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Umtiti, Digne; Rakitic, Iniesta, Paulinho; Messi, Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Cillessen, Sergio, Alcacer, Alba, Roberto, Vidal, Mina

Alaves: Pacheco; Duarte, Laguardia, Maripan, Ruano; Mubarak, Medran, Pedraza, Gomez; Sobrino, Guidetti
Subs: Sivera, Martin, Vigaray, Pedraza, Munir, Dieguez, Demirovic

Follow all the action from Camp Nou with Sports Mole's live match commentary.

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Ernesto Valverde pictured in 2016
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Osasuna176742225-325
7Real Sociedad167361611524
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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